Bill not tabled as expected

> Unilateral conversion law needs detailed study to avoid conflict: DPM

PUTRAJAYA: The Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) (Amendment) Act 2016 (Act 164) will not be tabled in the current Parliament sitting.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this was to allow for the bill be studied in detail and to get feedback from relevant quarters and experts to avoid conflict with existing fatwa and the Federal Constitution.

“The government is not backtracking. Although studies have been done, the government’s stand is that Act 164 needs to be reviewed so that the issue of unilateral conversions no longer become a polemic that could eventually be detrimental to the country,” he said after officiating at the Home Ministry monthly assembly yesterday.

The bill to prohibit unilateral conversions of children to Islam was to have been tabled in the current sitting, having been listed as the 11th item on the Dewan Rakyat order paper on Wednesday.

Ahmad Zahid said the government remains committed to protecting the interests of non-Muslims, adding that Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali has been tasked with having discussions with stakeholders such as law and religious experts, politicians and non-governmental organisations.

However, no deadline for the engagements to be completed was specified.

“We want to make sure all quarters are satisfied. I will let the AG engage with those who are committed to see this Act (be rid of) polemics.

“I will allow him to finalise everything before it can be presented to the Cabinet and tabled in Parliament,” he said.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism vice-president Jagir Singh said the bill was aimed at overcoming injustice which arose from the conversion of a single parent “where the marriage has been solemnised under civil law”.

“The cases in point are S. Deepa and M. Indira Gandhi, where the unilateral conversion of children had caused anguish to the non-converting spouse,” he told theSun when contacted yesterday.

“Since this proposed amendment is to right a wrong, it is definitely constitutional and should have been allowed in this session of Parliament.

“The bill is a result of years of negotiations with stakeholders. Therefore, it is not necessary to have further discussions on it.”